Gas washer



Jan. 21 1947.

N. c. CHRISTENSEN 2,414,718

GAS wAsnna Filed 'April 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Jan. 21, 1947. N. C. CHRISTENSEN GAS WASHER Filed April 26, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 uvvsmon Cazzklbvez [air n industrial plants.

- uniform liquid vortex Patented Jan. 21, 1947 UNITED sTATEs PATENTOFFlCE This invention relates to an improved apparatus for washing gaswith liquid to remove foreign particles from the gas.

It relates particularly to mechanisms employed for the removal ofsuspended particlesfrom the Such foreign particles may e finely dividedsolids formed in grinding, polishing and buffing, spray painting, andsimilar operations in which relatively small particles .of solids,emulsions or liquids, are formed, and

dispersed into the air. Though especially applicable in this field theinvention is useful generally for the removal or collection of foreignparticles from gas such as air. L

Various different methods of and mechanisms for wet washing gas toremove foreign particles suspended'therein have heretofore been used. Ihave found that a very effective method of washing gases andremovlng'foreign particles therefrom within a relatively small space andwithin a relatively compact apparatus consists in creating an improvedvortex-like suspension of particles of water (or other suitable liquids)of a variety of sizes 1. e. a swirling vortex-like mixture of mist, finespray, coarse spray or rain and larger irregular masses mixed with thegases to be cleaned and through which the gases to be. cleaned arepassed. An object of my invention is to establish and maintain a steady,constant, and rou h which the gas to be cleaned is uniformly passed.Such vortex is created by so controlling and directing the flow 10Claims. (01.261-111) An important preferred characteristic is that thegas to be cleaned is advanced as an annular,

- axially moving stream. carrying entrained cleaningliquid, and at highvelocity into an annular, radially extending, axially converging washingspace. The velocity of the stream and the shape and size of the washingspace is such that an annular, liquid vortex is set up within suchspace.

of gas to be cleaned and by so exposing liquid 7 thereto to be picked upthereby, that uniformity of functioning is attained. The gas streampicks up the liquid and is so directed as to create a liquid vortextherein. 1

To be most effective such a vortex should be steady in operation anduniform within the path or passage offered for the gases through thevortex i. e. the vortex must not surge or oscillate and A lack of suchuniformity of supply of both liquid and gas results in surging and inviolent rushes of gas through the apparatus without e'flicient washingor in difierence in effectiveness in washin in different parts 01 themachine..

It has been found that high efilciency is attained through establishingliquid vortex in the form of an annulus through which annular vortex thegas to be cleaned must pass. The gas In the apparatus of this inventionan especially emcieht liquid vortex which is steady in operation andoffers a uniform path to all partsof the gas stream flowing through theapparatus, is provided. The construction and operation is such thatliquid is supplied uniformly throughout the extent of the vortex and auniform flow of gas throughout the extent of the vertex is achieved.

The above objects, advantages, meritorious features and others, willmore fully appear from the following description. appended claims andaccompanying drawings, wherein: so

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a preferred form ofapparatus embodying my invention.

Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, 'are fragmentary sectional views taken on thesame line as Figure 1. showing alternative means for exposing liquid tothe gas stream. 1 Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on thesame line as Figure 1 through a modified form of construction. v

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the same line as Figure 1through a second modified form of construction.

Figure 8 is a broken away top plan view of Figure 7. r

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview showing the waterreturn from the washing zone.

7 Figure '1 generally illustrates the invention and housing are aplurality of spaced superposed crown baiiies l6 supported from thehousing by struts not shown. These bailles have their 'apexes centrallylocated and pointing upward.

. ing. Means is provided for continuously supplying liquid from thetank' 20 to the gas stream below the lower bafile l6. Figures 1 to 5inclusive illustrate different means for discharging'liquid into the gasstream.

The proper arrangement and spacing of the baiiles and the properproportioning of the openings through and between the bafiles andbetween the baffles and the housing, with regard to the volume of gaspassing through the apparatus,

are essential to proper operation. The size of the housing and the sizeof the openings will vary with thevolume of gas handled per unit oftime, but

the general principles of construction and operation for all sizes willbe apparent from the following description.

The alternating crown and annular baiiles divide the space within thehousing into an alternate series of circular axial spaces andcircumferential annular spaces. The central spaces are circular withconed tops and truncated cone bottoms. Theannular spacesconvergeradially inwardl'y of the housing. An essential feature of the inventionconsists in so arranging and pro-- portioning these spaces and theopenings connecting them with relation to the volume of flow of gasthrough said openings that the water supplied at an appropriate place inthe lower part of the path of flow of the gas stream is continu- 4 itpasses upwardly through the chamber. Th annular opening between the edgeof the lowermost conical baifle l6 and the conical bottom plate l2 andthe annular opening between the edge of said baiile and the housing areso proportioned to the volume of air flow that the speed of the aircurrent through these openings is sufficient to pick up substantiallyall of the spray dashed from the underside of the baflle Hi. This wateris carried up into the annular space above said bafile forming acontinuous annular liquid vortex within said space. The water flowingoff the edge of baflle It falls into the current of gas to be againcarried upward through the same cycle.

The annular opening between the baffle I8 and the baffle I6 and theopening in the center of baffle I8 are sufliciently larger than theopenings into the vortex space that the velocity of the leaving air isso low therethrough that the main part of the water in the vortex is notcarried upwardly and out with the gas but is dropped down-' I wardlyinto the vortex. The positioning of the baiiles l6 and I8 is such as togive the proper 'curved motion to the air flow as indicated in thedrawings. The most rapid air flow is on the outside curves of the streamand this .most rapid part of theair stream hugs the surfaces next to theoutside of the stream curves, thus keeping the particles of water nearerthe inner and slower parts of the .air stream and away from the surfaceswhich deflect the stream fiow.

Due to the annular shape of the washing sp ce provided with an annularinlet and an annular outlet, the gas and liquid enteruniformlythroughout and the gas leaves in the same uniform, manner. Byexercising proper control over volume and velocity surging or breakingthrough ously caught up by the gas stream and carried into the washingspace between the lowermost crown baffie l6 and the annular baille l8immediately thereabove where it is whirled'into an annular vortex.Liquid carrying particleswashed from the gas are continuously dischargedfrom the vortex and liquid is continuously delivered to the vortex bythe entering gas stream. The finer spray or mist carried up from thevortex by the gas is caught and removed therefrom in its passage throughthe upper spaces by the baffles.

Referring to Figure 1 water from the tank 20 is continuously supplied bythe pump 24 to a spray head 26 centrally located beneath the lowermostconical baffle. The pump inlet opening within the tank is shrouded fromfoul material falling directly thereinto by a baflle 28. The spray headsprays the water in a uniformly distributed radial spray curtain againstthe lower surface in an uneven manner is prevented.

After this vortex has j been established the supply of water from thespray head may be cut off and the vortex will maintain itself for a veryconsiderable length of time being only very slowly depleted by arelatively small escape by film .flow down the upper surface of thebottom plate II. This is mentioned only to show the permanence of thevortex and should not be done in practical operation I To secure uniformoperation provision must be made to secure a regular water outflow fromthe vortex chamber equal to the inflow. This outflow from the vortex maybe secured by leakage down the upper surface of the plate l2 but ispreferably secured by reducing the area of the inlet opening so as toincrease the air velocity therethrough and by leaving a narrow annularopening between the upturned outer edge l3 of the plate J2 and theinside of the cylindrical housing. The plate I2 is supported spaced fromthe housing wall by bridge elementsnot shown. As the weight of 1 waterin the vortex increases with the ,continued of the baiile where it isbroken into a finer spray and uniformly distributed across the annularopening between the margin of the baffle and the housing. Air is drawnby the fan 22 through grating 30 downward toward the water in' 'the tankand then upward through the opening inthe plate l2 and uniformlyradially outward and upward through the annular opening between thelowermost-crownbaflle, and the housing into the annular space above saidcrown bafile. The

is uniformly alternately divided and reunited as gas moves upwardlythrough the chamber as insupply from the spray head more and more waterwill escape through this opening down the inside of the housingwalluntil the equilibrium is automatically established between thesupply to the vortex and'the outflow from the vortex.

It will be apparent that suflicient water must be supplied to the vortexand withdrawn from the vortex to efiiciently carry away the materialscontinuously washed out of the airstream otherwise the material washedout of the air would accumulate in the vortex until the 'fiuid' mixturein thevortex would become a mud or an emulsion depending upon the type'of material washed out of the air'stream. In practiceaconsiderableexcess of water must be circulated through the vortex above the minimumactually required to remove the material washed out of the air, but

the supply from the spray head to maintain proper operating condition isrelatively very small as compared to that required with washing apparatuwhich does not make use of a sustained vortex maintained as abovedescribed.

Considering Fig. 1 as an example, if the diameter of the housing weretaken as 4 ft. the radial dimension of the inlet opening between themargin of the lowermost crown baille l6 and the housing wall might be 3inches and the vertical dimension of the outlet opening from the vortexspace between said crown baflle l6 and the annular 'batlle I 8thereabove might be 12 inches and the volume of air drawn throu h themachine might be 6000 c. f. m. In the struct res shown in the otherfigures of the drawings he dimensions might be similarly proportioned.The gas is taken into the washing space at such a velocity as t carryalong most of the liquid a high velocity. If 6000 c. f. m. of gas weretaken through the machine of Figure 1, such machine having a diameter of4 ft., the gas velocity might be 2500 ft. per minute through the annularinlet into the vortex space. Such figures, as well as machinedimensions, are illustrative only. .The

' requirement is that the gas pick up the liquid and Two or morevortexes, one above the other, may

v discharged thereinto. Such a velocity. is termed coned plate [2 into 6water is supplied by the pump from the tank to the spraying device asshown. The rotating basket throws a uniformly distributed radial sprayout into the peripheral portion of the space where it is picked up bythe air stream and carried up from the vortex as described. J

In Figure 4, the water is delivered to an external annular launder 36and overflows uniformly around the launder through the narrow annularspace between the inner wall of the launder and the housing and down theoutside wall of the housing and lower surface of the ing below plate [2is such that the air stream has suflicient speed to pick up the waterand carry it upward into'the vortex space. The water not initiallycarried into the vortex space but striking the under surface of thebaflle t8 flows down the underside of this baffle and from its loweredge into th air stream and is thus carried up into the vortex space. Itwill be apparent that if preferred the launder may be placed inside theshell. As shown, the water discharged from the launder washes ing.

opening between the lower circular edge of the bottom plate l2 and thewater surface. A flat cone 38 is placed with its apex extending up intothe opening in plate I 2 and at such a level that its surface justbeneath the circular edge of the plate i2 is at approximately the levelof the water. The spacing is such that the velocity of the air passinginwardly beneath the plate l2 is sufficient to pull water up to thesloping upper surface of the cone"38 and carry it into the and pick itup as a spray vortexspace as shown.

, In this case the water discharged from the vortex be secured bysuitable proportioning the openings as described in Fenn applicationSer. No. 529,060, filed April 1. 1944. It will also be apparent that asmany pairs of eliminator bailies andspaces above the vortex space asdesired or necessary may be used.

As previously noted a number of diiferentdevices and methods may be usedto supply the liquid to form and maintain the vortex. A central sprayhead 26. such as above described in Figure 1, sending out a uniformlydistributed radial spray may be used, or various other methods anddevices may be used as shown in Figures 2 and 5 inclusive. In Figure, 2,the water is supplied by the pump to a distributing cap 32 above theapex of the lowermost conical baf-' fle l6 and flows uniformly down theupper surface'of the baflle and from the circular edge thereof into thestream of air passing through the annular inlet opening and is picked upand swirled about; within the washing space as preio yldesc bedy p Bythe nffeansdescribed the most uniform and efiicient operating'conditions are maintained in anapparatus that because of its circular,and conical construction is simple, .compact and rigid and which iseasily constructed and may be operated with ami'nimum of attention andupkeep. If desired a spraying basket or other spraying device 34, asshown in Fig. 3, placed centrally- ,beneath the bafiielii and rotatingabout a vertical axis may be used. 'lI'he basket shaft maybe rotated byany suitable means. In this case the baffle spaces as previouslydescribed.

is delivered into the slower portion. of the air current through whichit falls into the tank.

For use in spray booths and similar devices in which the greater portionof the washed air may be continuously recirculated through'ftheapparatus to pick up the paint or other material in suspension, theinvention may be arranged as shown in Figure 6. In this figurethebaiiie-s and means for supplying the water to the vortex are asheretofore described. Any of the arrangements shown in Figures 1 mo maybe used.

In this type of apparatus in order to secure a uniform return fiow ofair around the entire periphery of the machine and downthrough thegrating 30 ah external circular jacket 40 concentric with the housing isprovided. This jacket may be supported from the housing and shaped todirect the air through the grating .30 as shown. A fan. is placed abovethe outlet from the housingand draws the air through opening l5. anddelivers it uniformly into the upper part of the jacketed space; Adownwardly sloping-plate 42 may be provided placed to deflect theannular stream of air as illustrated.

The airis circulated through the apparatus as shown by the flow linesand arrows, passing from the fan uniformly outward-and then downwardthrough the annular jacketed space and down through the grating l4 anduniformly in ward and then upward through the vortex and In order tosecure an inflow of outside air from below the jacket 40 part of the airfrom the fan may be discharged upwardly through the narrow anthe airstream. The air openthe outside of the housk 7 u nular slot 44 in theouter edge of the fan cover.

For use in washing gases conveyed to the apparatus from a distancethrough conduits, the invention may be arranged as shown in Figures 7and 8. In these figures the baffles and means for supplying the water tothe vortex are as heretofore described and any of the arrangements shownin Figures 1 to 5 may be used. In this uniform distribution of thestream of air down through the annular jacketed space 42 and uniformlyinto the space above the water level and inwardly and upwardlytherethrough and through the liquid spray into the vortex. An exhaustfan 22 creates the air flow. If desired the apparatus maybe equippedwith a drag 50 for removal of the sludge material from the tank asshown. 7

From the foregoing description it will be evident, that my invention isparticularly adapted to the securing of very uniform and constant,operating conditions not obtainable in the longitudinal and rectangulartypes of washers now in common use, that it secures a completelyuniform. flow of gases through similar parts of the device and a uniformdistribution of washing liquid in all similar parts of the device so asto securea-constant uniform treatment of all parts of the gas stream bythe washing liquid, which cannot be secured in rectangular washing orscrubbing apparatus of the types commonly used in which surging andby-passing of gas and uneven operation occur due to lack of uniformityin the passage of the gases and supply of liquid to all similar parts ofthe apparatus.

From the foregoing it will also be evident that my invention secures andmaintains a special type of liquid vortex which is annular in shape (i.e. closed upon itself and without ends): and constant and uniform inoperation and similar in action in all its parts, results which cannotbe obtained in rectangular apparatus in which the 8 t adjusting thea'pparatusto dlflferenhconditions in different plants.

What I claim is: 1. Gas washing apparatus comprising; in com bination, aliquid reservoir, an upright cylindrical housing superposing saidreservoir and having a gas inlet adjacent to its bottom and a gas outletadjacent to its top, said cylindrical housing Leing spaced from thereservoir on all sides to form a restricted gas passage therebetween, anannular haille extending inwardly and downwardly from the housing wallterminating above the water level in the reservoir and defining acentral gas inlet into the housing, an upwardly crowned bafflepositioned within the housing spaced above said central gas inletextending outwardly and downwardly toward the housing wall superposingthe first annular baffie and terminating at a slight distance therefromequally on all sides to form a restricted annular gas inlet into thespace above said crown baffle, a second annular baffle spaced above thecrown bafile extending inwardly and downwardly from the housing wallsuperposing the crown baflle and terminating spaced therea-bove definingtherewith an annular gas outlet passageway from the space tween saidannular baflle and the crown baflle of greater sectional area than theannular gas inlet into said space, and. means for directing a liquidspray uniformly circumferentially into the space between the firstannular baflle and the crown bafile, and means for, causing a gas streamto enter the bottom of said housing above the reservoir and flowupwardly through the housing at a velocity that it picks up the sprayedliquid and carried it through said circular gas inlet into said spaceabove the crown baiile where 'both the air stream and the liquid carriedtherein is deflected downwardly by said second annular battle and causedto be whirled about in'a violent annularly shaped vortex before the gasconditions at the ends of the apparatus are necessarily different tothosein the middle resulting in a lack of uniform treatment of the gasstream. The circular, annular and conical type of construction used inmy invention is much more rigid than can be secured in rectangular typesand may therefore be made of lighter construction and with less waste ofmaterial than with rectangular forms and also the type of constructionused in my invention is not nearly as subject to damage from vibration.

A great advantage of my invention is that it is uniform in operationunder different plant conditions which is not the case with washers ofthe rectangular type; For example with long lengths of conduitconducting the gas to rectangular washers it is substantially impossibleto secure uniform conditions in the washer due to the speed of theincoming air stream and the unsymmetrical distribution of the gas tosimilar parts of the vagaries and will give the same uniform resultsunder the different conditions of installation,

stream discharges therefrom at a reduced speed insuflicient to carry theliquid therewith through said gas outlet passageway.

2. Gas washing apparatus comprising, in, combination, a liquidreservoir, a cylindrical housing superposing said reservoir, an annularbaffie extending inwardly and downwardly from the housing wall andprovided with a central gas inlet into the housing, a crown bafflesuperposing said central inlet and extending outwardly and downwardlyfrom the axis of the housing and termihating spaced above the outermarginal portion apparatus. My apparatus is not subject to such of saidannular baffle and spaced from the housing wall defining ah annular gasinlet into the space above said crown baffle, a second annular baiileextending inwardly and downwardly from the housing wall superposing thecrown baffle and terminating spaced "thereabove and defining therewithan annular washing space provided with a gas outlet passageway betweenthe margin of the second annular bailie and the crown baflle of greatercross sectional area than the gas inlet passageway into said washingspace, means for discharging liquid against the under side of said crownballle uniformly around the margin.

thereof, andmeans-for drawing gas downwardly into the reservoir andupwardly through said.

housing.

3. Gas washing apparatus comprising, in combination, a liquid reservoir,a cylindrical housing superposing said reservoir provided with a gasinlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top; a crown baflle disposedaxially within said housing adjacent to the bottom extending outconicalbaiiie and first said conical bailie of V 'wardhr and downwardly -fromthe housing wall defining an annular gas 9 and terminating spaced I fordrawing gas downwardly into the reservoir circumierentially about thehousing and upwardly through the housing means spaced about the topoutlet from the housing having a skirt encircling the housing adapted todirect a portion of the gas exhausted from the outlet downward- -ly intothe gaslnlet at the bottom of the housing,

and means for discharging liquid into the gas stream adjacent to the gasinlet into the annular washing space. v

4. Gas washing apparatus comprising, in combination, a liquid reservoir,a housing superpos ing said reservoir and having a'gas inlet at thebottom and a gas outlet at the top, said reservoir having a gas inletthereinto encircling said housing', means for drawing gas downwardlyinto the reservoir and upwardly through the housing,

means for delivering liquid into the gas stream K entering the housing,and means encircling the housing for directinga portion of the gas exhausted from the top thereof downwardly'into the reservoir through thegas inlet encircling the housing. q 5. Apparatus for washing gases toremove particles of foreign matter from said gases which consists of: avertical cylindrical housing enclosing washing and eliminating spaces; acover closing said housing at the top with a centrally located gasoutlet opening; a downwardly extending truncated conical bottom plateclosing said-housing at the bottom with its lower edge forming a centralhorizontal circular gas inlet opening, a conical baiile plate centrallyplaced within said housing above said bottom with the apex upward andwith its lower outer circular edge forming a;horizontal annular openingbetween said edgeand the cylindrical housing and a vertical cylindricalopening'between said edge and above said bottom plate; a downwardlyextending truncated conica baflle plate within said housing above saidlast conical plate and attached to said housing at its uppercircularinner edge and with its lower edge forming a central horizontalcircular opening and defining a vertica1 cylindrical gas passage betweensaid last lower circular edge and said last conical baiile, with saidopening between said lower edge of said ,conical bailie and said bottomplate and said cylindrical housing of such area withrespect .to the gasflow to be passed through said openings that liquid introduced into saidgas streaTm near said openings will be carried up into'the annular spacebeneath above said truncated conicalbaiiie and with the areas of saidcentral opening in above said truncated conical ba'ille and the openingbetween said lower edge of said truncated such area with regard to thevolume of gas to be passed through said openings that liquid fallinginto said gas stream from said lower edge of said truncated bafile platewill fall through said gas stream and will not be carried upward withsaid gas stream; a cylindrical liquid basin beneath and centrallylocated with regard to said cylindrical housing, means for supplying aspray of liquid from said basin uniformly and equally to 10 all parts ofthe gas stream passing through said openingibetween said lower edge ofsaid conical baflle and said bottom plate, means for with-, drawingliquid from first said truncated conical bailie plate, alternate pairsof upwardly extending conical and downwardly extending truncated conicalbaflle plates in said housing above first said pair of such baiiles sospaced from each other and from said housing with regard to said fiow ofgas to be passed thrqughsaid apparatusthat liquid falling from the loweredges of said baflie plates will not be ,carriedupward with said gasstream but will pass downward to said space beneath first said truncatedconical baille, means for drawing gas to be cleaned downward into theupper part of said liquid basin above the liquid in said basin plate andupward through the spaces enclosed by said cylindrical housing betweensaid bafile plates and out through said outlet opening at a velocity'sufilcient to pick up said spray of liquid and carry' it through theannular opening between the lower outer edge of said first conicalbafile plate and the housing wall into the annular space under saidtruncated conical lbaiile plate immediately thereabove where it iswhirled about in an annularly-shaped vortex, but at a velocity in- Isufiicient to carry the liquid out off the vortex as the gas streamresumes its upward course through the housing. Y r

6. Gas washing apparatus comprising, in combination, an uprightcylindrical housing having a gas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet atthe top, a cone-shaped baflle positioned axially within the housingadjacent the bottom thereof and having its perimeter spaced slightlyfrom the wall of the housing an equal distance there- 1 around to form arestricted circular inlet open- 40 ing, an annular baille superposingsaid cone ballle 'and extending at an incline inwardly and downwardlyfrom the housing wall toward and over the outer portion of the conebaiile and having its inner lower edge spaced from the cone 'baflie 5 adistance substantiallygreater than said inlet opening to form a circularoutlet opening; means exposing liquid adjacent to said inlet opening,and means for causing gas fouled with particles to enter the bottom ofsaid housing and fiow through said circular inletopening at a velocitythat it picks up the liquid exposed thereto and carries it up into thearea between said b-afiles where it is deflected downwar'dlyby saidannular baille and caused to be whirled around in an annular vortexbetween the bailies before the gas discharges therefrom at a slower rateof speed housing an equal distance therearound to form a restrictedaimular inlet opening, an annular bafll positioned within the housingspaced above said cone baffle extending at an incline inwardly anddownwardly from the housing wall toward and over the outer portion ofthe cone bailie and having its inner perimeter spaced from the conebailie a distance substantially'g-reater than the said inlet opening toform an annular outlet opening substantially wider than said inletopenthe annular space .beneath and upward through said opening in saidbottom particles to enter ing, a second annular baille below saidconeshaped baffle extending at an incline inwardly and downwardly fromsaid annular inlet opening and defining with the cone baflie an annularpassageway converging outwardly toward the ansaid reservoir anddischarging the same equally circumferentially adjacent to said annularinlet opening, and means for causing gas fouled with the bottom of saidhousing above said reservoir and flow-through said converging passagewayand through said inlet opening at a velocity that it picks up the liquiddischarged adjacent into the area between said cone baille and theannular bafile thereabove where it is deflected downwardly by the latterand caused to" be whirled around in an annular vortex before the gasdischarges from the area at reduced speed through said annular outletopening.

8. Gas washing apparatus comprising, in combination, a liquid reservoir,an upright cylindrical housing superposing said reservoir and having aradial dimension such that the reservoir extends beyond the housing onall sidesthereof, a plurality of vertically spaced cone -shaped bafflespositioned axially within said housing, the lowermost baflle having itsouter edge spaced slightly from the wall of the tance therearound toform a restricted circular housing to form annual inlet opening, aplurality of vertically spaced annularly-shaped baffles arranged axiallyin said housing and alternating in position with said cone bafiies, saidannularly shaped baffles extending at an incline inwardly and downwardlyfrom the wall of the housing and partially overlapping the cone baffle,the lowermost annular bafiie disposed below the lowermost cone baiiieand provided with a substantially vertical portion on the outer edgethereof rising into said circular inlet opening in spaced relation toboth the outer edge of the cone baffle and the wall of the housing,means for continuously'taking liquid-from said reservoir and dischargingthe same in equal amounts adjacent to all portions of said circularinlet opening, and means for causing gas fouled with particles to enterthe bottom of the housing above the reservoir and flow upwardly there- 1through at such a velocity that it picks up the liquid dischargedadjacent to the circular inlet opening and carries it therethrough intothe area between the lowermost cone bafile and the immediatelysuperposing annular baflie'where it is swirled about in an annularlyshaped vortex before the gas leaves the area for further passage throughthe housing, the spaced relation of said vertical portion of, thelowermost annular baflie with respect to the wall of the housing formingan annular escape vent for the return of. liquid from said vortex to thereservoir.

9. Gas washing apparatus comprising, in comhousing an equal dis- H 4 5extending inwardly and downwardly from the nular inlet opening, meansfor taking liquid from outer margins of the battles and the wall of thehousing, a series of inclined annularly-shaped baflies positionedaxially in the housing in alternate staggered relation to the conebaflles and wall of the housing toward, the axis thereof but terminatingshort of the axis to form central openings in the housing for thepassage of gas, the lowermost annual baffle being below the lowermostcone baflle on substantially the level of the latter and carries it up Ithe bottom of the housing, means for continuously taking liquid fromsaid liquid reservoir and directing the liquid thus taken in equalamounts across the lowest annular opening formed between the margin ofthe lowermost cone baffle and the bafiles at such a velocitycombination,

ing and the housing wall,-and means for causing a gas stream to becleaned to flow downwardly around the outside of the housing into thetank and thence upwardly through the housing between said liquid exposedat said lowest annual opencarries it into the space under the annualbaille immediately superposing the opening where both the liquid and gasare deflected tinues into upward passage ing.

10. Gas

through the houswashing apparatus comprising, in a cylindrical tank forholding a reservoir of liquid, an upright cylindrical housingsuperposing said cylindrical tankin concentrio relation thereto of thetank and having a radial dimension less extending upwardly than that ofthe tank to form an annular gas inlet into the bottom of the housing, aseries baflies positioned axially in the housing in alternate staggeredrelation to the cone battles and extending inwardly and downwardly fromthe wall of the housing toward the axis thereof but terminating short ofopenings in the housing for-the passage of-gas,

the lowermost annual ballle being below the lowermost cone baffie onsubstantially the level of the bottom of the housing'and having itsouter marginal portion rising substantially vertically into the annualopening formed at the outer marbination, a cylindrical tank for holdinga' reservoir of liquid, an upright cylindrical housing superposing saidcylindrical tank in concentric relation thereto arranged with its lower.edge substantially on the level with the upper edge of the tank andhaving a radial dimension less than that of the tank to form an annulargas inlet into the bottom of the housing, a series of I verticallyspaced cone-shaped baflles positioned axially in the housing with theapexes thereof the axis of the housing extending upwardly on dimensionthan the and being of less radial baffle and arranged to radially towardgin of the lowest cone baflie in spaced relation thereto and the wall ofthe housing, a spray head located below the apex of the lowest conedirect a spray of liquid the outer margin thereof, means forcontinuously taking liquid from the reservoir and delivering the same tosaid spray. head for discharge thereby, and meansfor causing a gasstream to flow downwardly into said annular gas inlet of the tank andthence upwardly through annual baffle where it is openings between thethe housing between the baffles into such velocity that it picks up theliquid spray discharged by said head and carries it upwardly into thespace between the lowest cone baffle and next above deflected by thelatter and caused to be swirled around in a tion before the gascontinues its upward passage through the housing.

NIEIS C. CHRISTENSEN.

that it picks up arranged with its lower edge substantially on the levelwith the upper edge the axis to form centralvortex mo-

